Compare the2026 BMW 3 Series SedanVS 2025 Cadillac CT4-V

The 3 Series Sedan’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CT4-V doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 3 Series Sedan has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CT4-V doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The 3 Series Sedan’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The CT4-V doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 3 Series Sedan and the CT4-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The 3 Series Sedan’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the CT4-V’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 3 Series Sedan for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the CT4-V.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Cadillac.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 13 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The M340i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 61 more horsepower (386 vs. 325) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 380) than the CT4-V’s standard 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the 330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Cadillac CT4-V turbo 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

In a Car and Driver race course test, the BMW M340i was clocked 3 seconds faster than the Cadillac CT4-V AWD (183.2 sec. vs. 186.2 sec.).

On the EPA test cycle the 3 Series Sedan gets better mileage than the CT4-V:

Regenerative brakes improve the 3 Series Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CT4-V doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Regardless of its engine, the 3 Series Sedan’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CT4-V Blackwing doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the BMW 3 Series Sedan uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CT4-V requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The 3 Series Sedan has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the CT4-V. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 3 Series Sedan higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Cadillac CT4-V (4 to 5). This means the 3 Series Sedan produces up to 13.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CT4-V every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the 3 Series Sedan’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the CT4-V:

The 3 Series Sedan stops shorter than the CT4-V:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the 3 Series Sedan can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the CT4-V.

The 3 Series Sedan offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CT4-V; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the CT4-V don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 3 Series Sedan’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the CT4-V (112.2 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the 3 Series Sedan is 1.8 inches wider in the front and .6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the CT4-V.

The 330i handles at .95 G’s, while the CT4-V AWD pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The M340i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CT4-V (25 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 25.4 seconds @ .73 average G’s).

The front grille of the 3 Series Sedan uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CT4-V doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the 330i is quieter than the CT4-V Blackwing:

The 3 Series Sedan has .4 inches more front headroom, 4.5 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom, 4.8 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT4-V.

The 3 Series Sedan has a much larger trunk than the CT4-V (16.9 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the 3 Series Sedan easier. The 3 Series Sedan’s trunk lift-over height is 26.7 inches, while the CT4-V’s liftover is 30 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 3 Series Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The CT4-V doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 3 Series offers cargo security. The CT4-V’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 3 Series Sedan’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The 3 Series Sedan also offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper. The CT4-V doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

The 3 Series Sedan’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The CT4-V’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the 3 Series Sedan the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CT4-V can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CT4-V’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The 3 Series Sedan’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Both the BMW 3 Series Sedan and Cadillac CT4-V offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The 3 Series Sedan features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the CT4-V’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The 3 Series Sedan has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the CT4-V. The 3 Series Sedan also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CT4-V.

The 3 Series Sedan’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CT4-V doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW 3 Series Sedan and the Cadillac CT4-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Cadillac CT4 by almost five to one during 2024.